Michel Salgado came through 45 minutes unscathed as the Rovers Reserves got their season off to a winning start at Leigh Sports Village.
The former Real Madrid start played the first half at left back as Rovers defeated Liverpool 3-2.
It was his half-time replacement Josh Morris who scored the decisive goal, netting a last minute penalty after fellow sub' Julio Santa Cruz had been felled in the box.
Liverpool had the better of the game for long periods, Nathan Eccleston had opened the scoring on two minutes before Aaron Doran scored an equally impressive goal just past the half hour after Salgado's decisive through ball.
The visitors clawed their way back into the lead five minutes after the restart when Eccleston fired home for his and Liverpool's second on the night, but a defensive mix-up saw an Andy Haworth cross pushed onto Daniel Ayala by 'Pool goalkeeper Jacob and the ball rolled into the back of the net.
Rovers were forced into a change when goalscorer Aaron Doran limped off, the young Irishman who had been lively throughout was unable to continue after being on the end of a robust challenge, but it was his replacement Julio Santa Cruz that would play a hand in Rovers winning the match.
Liverpool pressed for a winner with Ngog seeing a fierce shot well saved by Fielding, but at the death it was the home side who grabbed all three points when deep into added time Julio Santa Cruz was tripped in the area and Josh Morris marked his first Reserve team appearance with a debut goal, stepping up to cooly slot home with Jacob diving in the wrong direction.
ROVERS: Fielding; Salgado (sub Morris 46 mins), Flynn, Jones, O'Connor, Haworth, Morrissey, Lowe, Marshall, Rigters, Doran (sub Santa Cruz 58 mins).
Subs not used: Hall, Kean (GK), Hanley.
LIVERPOOL: Jacob, Degen, Darby, Ayala, Kyrgiakos (sub Kelly 46 mins), Spearing, Pacheco, Eccleston, Ngog, Plessis (sub Palsson 79 mins), Bruna (sub Amoo 85 mins).
Subs not used: Belford (GK), Irwin.
Booked: Jones, Lowe (Rovers), Ayala, Plessis (Liverpool)
Attendance: 828
